Surprising Front Porch Stories Paperback – February 14, 2026

This is a non-fiction book about real occurrences. The majority of the stories took place in many cities across the United States. However, all of the stories in the book were told to our relatives, friends, and Kelleys neighbors on the Front Porch of our historic 1840 home on Kelleys Island in Lake Erie. As you'll discover, many of these stories from my life include "unexpected coincidences" or "Godwinks." Many are about famous people, such as, John Wayne, Paul Newman, Bob Hope, Don Rickles, singers Paul Simon and Tony Bennett, animators Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera, and Chuck Jones, and so many more. But, the people aren't the key focus. It's how, where, or when I met these people and the subsequent "coincidence" of that meeting. I believe our lives are a collection of stories. What makes them interesting, or even unique, are the situations or circumstances in which they occur ("unexpected coincidences"). I genuinely hope you will experience many moments of joy, laughter, and even disbelief as you read my Surprising Front Porch Stories. I have found that people who hear my stories pass them on to others. That's the sign of a good story! Go ahead -- share them. Read more